Mountains can change the weather because they block and move air, just like a big wall in a playground.
Imagine you're playing on a sunny day, but suddenly a giant wall pops up between you and the sun, that’s what mountains do to the wind and clouds. When wind comes from one side of a mountain, it has to climb up the slope. This makes the air cool down, and sometimes it even brings rain or snow, especially on the top of the mountain.
How mountains move weather
- On one side of the mountain, the wind gets cooler and might bring rain, this is called the windward side.
- On the other side, after the wind goes over the mountain, it’s warmer and drier, this is called the leeward side.
It's like when you blow on your hand from one direction, it feels cool, but if you turn your hand around, the air feels warm. Mountains do something similar with weather every day!
Examples
- A mountain range blocks warm air from moving in, making one side of the mountain colder than the other.
- Snow falls on the north side of a mountain but not on the south side because the wind pushes it there.
Ask a question
See also
- How Does Sea Breeze | Land Breeze | Formation of Wind Work?
- How Does Air Masses Work?
- How Does The Ocean Has Weather Too And It's Weird Work?
- How the Sun Affects Weather?
- How Does Understanding drought Work?